To Think Like An Entrepreneur You Need To Think Like a Child

Are children the best entrepreneurs?

Want your child to be the next Elon Musk? Tell them to never grow up.

Growing up is possibly one of the biggest pitfalls for entrepreneurs. As our brains’ mature we tend to look at things more realistically — equipping ourselves to deal with the trials and tribulations of adult life. However, in doing so we hamper our childlike imaginations where anything and everything is possible. Our day-dreams are kept in the realms of fantasy and that creative spark, that fire, is dampened by logic and reason.

But the greatest entrepreneurs are the ones who make the impossible possible. They’re the people who aren’t bound by the limits of realism.

It’s not that these entrepreneurs are childish though, no. It’s that they’re childlike — and that is what sets them apart. But what exactly is it that makes this childlike disposition so valuable for entrepreneurs? Well, this is why the best entrepreneurs are childlike.

They believe in their dreams

The Tooth Fairy, Santa, the Easter Bunny — they were real because we believed they were. When we played we really were flying in a spaceship or sailing across the seas. When we really believe in a dream, it feels like reality.

In order to make things possible, entrepreneurs need to be able to believe in their dreams. Like a child, they need to forget about the logic behind and not let that hold them back.

They won’t take no for an answer

Children are persistent. When a child wants something they will not stop until they get it — be it complaining until they get a toy or asking a question in several different ways until they get an answer they deem to be sufficient answer.

Entrepreneurs share this persistent nature. They won’t resort to childish approaches, like throwing a tantrum until they get what they want but they will remain determined even when all is stacked against them.

They appeal emotionally, not logically

Children are extremely emotionally driven — they don’t think, they feel. For example, a child doesn’t choose to eat blueberries because they’re some superfood and make a healthier snack option, they eat them because they’re tasty.

In order to effectively persuade, entrepreneurs need to be able to tap into people’s emotions and it’s by thinking like a child that they can do it effectively. A childlike mind allows them to appeal emotionally because they’re already being driven by those emotions themselves.

They don’t understand what’s impossible

We hear kids say crazy things all the time. Maybe they want a pet dinosaur or they want to be a king when they grow up — whatever it is they say, they don’t understand that it’s impossible.

What children say sounds crazy to us just as what entrepreneurs say can sound crazy to us. What would you say to someone who said they were going to build a chip for your brain that could directly stream music to your brain? It sounds impossible, but not to Elon Musk.

They’re curious

Have you ever noticed how children will try to eat everything or poke at things they shouldn’t? They’re undeniably curious about the world.

Entrepreneurs share this trait and seek to learn more, experiment and play with what the world has to offer. It’s the key to their innovative success.

They have a reset mentality

When children get into an argument in the playground they’ll be playing with each other five minutes later. Or maybe when they fall, they’ll cry for a few seconds and move on. Children are resilient — they’re unaffected because of their reset mentality.

When failure comes our way, as adults we can often be hung up on it for years. A bad breakup may stop us from pursuing love again or a failed business venture might make us doubt our capabilities for the rest of our life.

Entrepreneurs, like children, are able to bounce back from these failures and reset their mentality. Their resilience keeps their ambition and determination alive and thriving.

They can charm their way to getting what they want

We’ve all fallen for those puppy dog eyes before. Children know how to charm adults — they play the games, use the tricks. And they use their inherent charm to get what they want.

Entrepreneurs use the same mechanisms children do in order to charm you. They will make that eye contact, they’ll appear endearing and woo you with wonderment and innocence. They understand that to get what they want, they have to charm their way to it.

They’re fast learners

You’ve probably heard that the best time to learn a second language is before you’re 4 years old. Children’s brains are wired to learn at a much faster rate than adults.

When it comes to learning, entrepreneurs’ brains don’t seem to slow down. Perhaps it could be their ability to not be afraid of making mistakes and learning from them but overall, entrepreneurs are able to pick up on stuff quickly.

Life is a game

As we grow up, our time for fun decreases. We have to work, do the laundry, pay our taxes. Life loses that game-like quality that it had when we were children. We can't just go jumping from sofa to sofa pretending the floor’s lava because we know if we’ll have to clean up after and we could damage the sofa — everything becomes a chore.

For entrepreneurs, they don’t view their work as a chore. Running a business, setting up a start-up — it’s all a game to them. They do what they do because they think it’s fun. They’re always finding a way to work more not because they need to but because they want to.

They have a childlike mindset

All of these traits combined are what makes the mindset of an entrepreneur childlike. They’re curious and creative, they’re ambitious and driven. They don’t allow ‘reality’ to stop them from achieving their dreams.

Ultimately, it is their childlike mindset that sets them apart from your average, grounded, logical and realistic business-person. It’s what makes them the innovators, the leaders, the people who change the world — as they always say, children are the future.

Closing Remarks

When it comes to entrepreneurship age is just a number. You should never limit yourself with its restrictions.

Allow your childlike side to flourish and see your success grow.